The built environment and climate change

Architecture 2030 (www.architecture2030.org) estimates that nearly 50% of our carbon dioxide emissions come from the construction, heating, cooling and powering of the buldings we live in. When you factor in the carbon dioxide from cars generated as we drive and transport goods between our homes and the places we work, shop and play, the built environment is probably responsible for nearly 75% (or more) of all our carbon dioxide.

That's a huge problem to take on, but it is good to know where the leverage for change is too. By changing how our buildings are built, heated, and powered AND how they are arranged we could achieve carbon neutrality.

It will take time, but as Architecture 2030 points out, in the next 25 years we will be construction, reconstructing or rehabilitating a great deal of our building stock. This presents a huge opportunity, but we need to get our building and zoning codes changed to require the right kind of development that internalizes the carbon costs. We need banks that are willing to take a risk on innovative projects. We need pioneers to live and work in these buildings.

We need inspiring examples of what is going to get us where we need to be, and we need them today. We need to be building for "One Planet Living" (to borrow from Bioregional's resource accounting framework).

There are already some encouraging developments. A number of major cities and professional organizations around the world (including the American Institute of Architects) have adopted the 2030 Challenge carbon reduction goals already. This is huge.

But of course we need more. I am in favor of a carbon tax to help move things along. I also think state and federal incentives for energy efficient and transit-oriented real estate development need to be expanded. We need a public education campaign for consumers. And we need more people thinking about how to create "form based codes" for reduced car dependence and carbon reduction that drive the arrangements of our buildings.

Buildings, land use and climate change

I recently posted on a friend's blog about the role of the built environment in climate change. It can be found here:

http://blogs.earthsky.org/orionkriegman/politics/04305/american-ethic-of-personal-responsibility/